Obama Supports Anti-Trump Protests, Breaking from Tradition

President Obama's decision to wade into the fight over President Trump's executive order marks a serious departure from President Bush's precedent.

By NTK Staff | 01.30.2017 @3:55pm

Former President Barack Obama released a statement criticizing President Trump’s executive order, per Politico, “[Obama] fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.”

Obama’s decision to weigh in on Trump’s policies diverged from precedents that previous presidents, including Obama’s predecessor, President Bush, observed. Bush maintained a personal moratorium on commenting on Obama’s policies, saying his successor “deserves [his] silence.” Bush’s reluctance to discuss his successor’s presidency lasted throughout Obama’s two terms and extended to all issues.

Trump issued executive orders Friday that placed temporary bans on citizens of seven terrorism-stricken countries from entering the United States and suspended the Syrian refugee program. The order imposes the temporary stop until the Department of Homeland Security is able to match Trump’s wish of “extreme vetting” of people coming into the United States.

The actions sparked protests across the country in cities and at airports where international arrivals were landing in limbo. Judges in several jurisdictions ordered stays on deportations for some of those affected by the executive action. Still, both the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American Islamic Relations plan to file legal challenges to Trump’s order.